Medical Tourism to Singapore

The small state of Singapore is is well-known for its very stringent laws and regulations particularly in the areas involving cleanliness. These regulations are carried over to Singapore's ultra-high quality levels in healthcare and world-class facilities, making it an ideal destination for medical travelers looking for modern infrastructure, a clean and structured environment, and English-speaking medical professionals.

Singapore's Healthcare System

In 2014, the Bloomberg ranked Singapore as the most efficient health system in the world. Hospitals and medical centers in Singapore are mostly government or public facilities, while a few are privately owned like the Raffles and Parkway hospitals. All Singaporean hospitals offer 'top-of-the-line' healthcare services and facilities. They are serviced by English-speaking and internationally trained medical practitioners and staff.

International Hospital Accreditations

Most hospitals and specialty centers in Singapore cater to medical tourists, and practically all of them offer ultra-high quality healthcare. Most major hospitals in Singapore have international accreditation from the Joint Commission International (JCI), ISO or OHSAS. In 2014, Singapore had 21 JCI-accredited hospitals and medical centers.

Cost of Medical Treatment in Singapore

The following are cost comparisons between Medical procedures in Singapore and equivalent procedures in the United States: [sources 1, 2, 3]

Cardiac Surgery

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

Heart Bypass

$55,000 - $130,000

$13,000 - $18,500

70-80%

Heart Valve Replacement

$130,000 - $160,000

$12,000 - 13,000

90-92%

Coronary Angioplasty

$42,000 - $57,000

$11,500 - $13,000

70-77%

Coronary Angiography

$5,500 - $6,000

$1,300 - $1,500

70-75%

Orthopedic Surgery

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

Hip Replacement

$24,000 - $43,000

$12,000 - $16,000

50-65%

Hip Resurfacing

$45,000 - $50,000

$13,000 - $15,000

70-75%

Knee Replacement

$38,000 - $42,000

$12,000 - $13,500

65-70%

Spinal Fusion

$60,000 - $63,000

$8,000 - $10,000

80-85%

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

Face Lift (Rhytidectomy)

$19,000 - $21,000

$6,500 - $7,500

60-65%

Breast Augmentation/Reduction (Mammoplasty)

$9,000 - $11,000

$7,000 - $9,000

18-20%

Liposuction (Lipoplasty)

$14,000 - $16,000

$4,500 - $5,500

60-65%

Nose Surgery (Rhinoplasty)

$6,500 - $7,500

$3,500 - $4,500

40-46%

Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)

$8,000 - $9,000

$6,000 - $6,500

25-40%

Eyelid Surgery

$6,500 - $7,500

$3,500 - $4,000

45-50%

Eye / Ophthalmology

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

LASIK Eye Surgery

$2,000 - $2,500

$1,500 - $2,000

20-25%

General and Cosmetic Dentistry

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

Root Canal

$800 - $1200

$350 - $900

25-60%

Other procedures

Procedure

US Hospitals

Singapore

Average Savings

Stem Cell Transplant

$200,000 - $250,000

$72,000 - $90,000

60-65%

Hysterectomy

$19,000 - $21,000

$5,500 - $6,500

70-75%

Malpractice and Liability Laws in Singapore

Doctors in Singapore are required to have suitable medical malpractice insurance, but these are not as expensive as compared to the US. The costs are recovered through payments for medical procedures and treatments as shouldered by patients.

Pros

Quality healthcare system

The WHO ranked the quality of healthcare in Singapore as 6th in the world.

Modern and developed country

Singapore is a highly urbanized, orderly and spotless country so medical tourists can avoid the chaotic environment which is typical to some Asian countries.

JCI accreditations

There are several JCI-certified hospitals and healthcare facilities in Singapore.

English is widely spoken

English is one of Singapore's official languages and is spoken by all doctors and medical staff.

Cons

More expensive then other Asian countries

Medical procedures and treatments done in Singapore are more expensive compared to other Asian medical tourism destinations such as Thailand, India, Philippines and Malaysia.

Climate

The climate in Singapore is hot and humid. This may cause a measure of discomfort to most Westerners, particularly during the post-procedure and recovery stages.

Living costs

Prices of goods, transportation and accommodation in Singapore are more expensive than most Asian countries

Inconvenient flight from Europe/North America

For US, Canadian and European medical tourists, travel times to Singapore are very long

Traveling to Singapore

Non-stop or single-stop flights are available from various destinations to Singapore through the flagship Singapore Airlines and other international airlines. Average estimated travel time in hours

From/To

Singapore

New York City

18

Los Angeles

16

Australia (Sydney)

7

Indonesia (Jakarta)

2

Philippines (Manila)

3.5

UAE (Dubai)

7

Toronto

21

Vancouver

18

United Kingdom

14

Singapore Entry and Exit Requirements

As a general requirement for entry and exit to Singapore, all foreign visitors are required to have the following items: passport/travel document with a minimum validity of 6 months; a return or onward ticket; entry requirements for the visitor's next destination; sufficient funds that would support their stay and purpose in Singapore; and required applicable Visa or visit pass as described below.

Visiting nationals from the UK, Australia, Canada, USA and EU countries do not require a Visa upon entry and will be issued a Social Visit Pass upon arrival, provided that they comply with the general requirements as described above. The visit pass is valid for 30 days upon arrival. Other countries listed in Singapore's Assessment Level I and Level II countries are required to have either a Business Visa or a Social Visit Visa prior to entry to Singapore.

Should there be a need for an extension in stay, or if the required pre-procedure and post-procedure duration requirements extend beyond 30 days, the medical traveler should arrange for an extension pass (valid up to 90 days) from the Embassy of the Republic of Singapore or the Consulate-General of Singapore before leaving the United States or Canada. If the need for extension is determined while already in Singapore, special permits can be arranged and obtained from the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority of Singapore.

Statistics of Medical Tourism in Singapore

Singapore attracts hundreds of thousands of medical tourists per year, according to exit surveys conducted on tourists by the Singapore Tourism Board. Singapore's international patients are mostly from Asian countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, UAE and China.